The Forbidden Sage and the Warden

Libarius stays laying on the ground up against the wall. His body is turned in on itself, his coat covering him entirely now. The sun is setting, casting a large shadow over Libarius, hiding him within his coat. The match had not gone on. Following his defeat by Gracia and her departure, the match was postponed. Nobody had found Libarius. He hadn’t moved. He’s barely moving. Even his breath is faint, his chest hardly moving, and still covered by the coat. Whether he’s there or not, whether he’s alive or dead, both are far too hard to answer. And so Libarius has been left where he lies.

Night will come soon, and Libarius knows that in that darkness he will never be found. But he has no intention of moving. Come morning he assumes somebody might find him. Perhaps Salvo will come to monitor him, having realized he’s gone missing. Perhaps the Magic Council will realize the same, and organize a party for his recapture. Perhaps she will notice his absence, and realize his whereabouts, and Gracia might return here. Regardless, Libarius lacks the will to move. He has no intention of moving any longer. He keeps his mind occupied with thoughts of magic and spells and theory as he lies there alone.

However, well ahead of Libarius’s predictions, Salvo appears. The orange light of the setting sun shines on him as he looks down at Libarius. He stands tall and proud bathed in that light. Libarius keeps himself wrapped in shadow as he turns his head just enough to allow himself to gaze up at Salvo with one eye. To him, Salvo is the one shining.

Salvo notices Libarius’s shifting within the shadows. He crouches down, soft shadows replacing the orange light. There’s an easy smile on his face, though his eyes betray a desperation.

“So this is where you were.”

“Salvo—”

“Libarius,” Salvo intends to correct Libarius, but is denied that pleasure.

“I no longer have any intention of playing pretend. Return me to the Abyss.”

“What?”

“Return me to the Abyss. Provide for me fine mages to carry out my experiments and there will be no issue.”

“Libarius, I won’t put you back there. I won’t leave you in that tiny cell to live in the darkness. I want you to be free.”

“Is that wise, Salvo? Am I one to be trusted were my freedom returned?”

“Of course. You’re a very kind boy, Libarius.”

“Perhaps that is the image of me you hold, but it is a falsehood. Rather, it is incomplete. It is an image of only once I had been defanged so, robbed of both magic and body. Wager a guess, Salvo, what will I do with my magic and my freedom? Wager a guess, what research do I intend to resume?”

“Libarius…”

“I imagine you’ve come to a proper conclusion. Indeed, as is my wont, I intend to resume Father’s research. I intend to return to his side, were I to become free.”

“The Tyrant is dead, Libarius.”

“I’m not such a fool, Salvo. Though even if his body has perished, he lives on. I have recorded his great art. I am the last remnant of Father. And so I will fulfill my long held desire to join him in his research.”

“Libarius!”

“Indeed, at this juncture you now stand in my way. With my intentions laid bare you have decided to stand against me. But I am undeniable, Salvo. So I make this offer: return me to the Abyss. Lock me there, make me happy, and I shall again be virtuous.”

“How can I believe that you’ll be happy if I force you back in that cell!?”

“It’s not forced, Salvo. I desire the cloister myself. I tire of this world. It’s far too bright, and much too loud, and utterly dull nonetheless. I wish to leave it. You will never again get such a chance to slay a great enemy of mankind. And you’re a ‘hero,’ aren’t you, Salvo?”

“If I’m supposed to play a hero, then that’s all the more reason! I won’t rob you of your life, Libarius! You’re only a child! Let me teach you to love this world! I want you to live!”

“In that case, perhaps you will be convinced if I told you I see portents of my own death. Indeed, I am sure that if I continue upon this path I will be killed by Gracia at the end of it.”

“What?”

“Without fail I will become the enemy of mankind, as Father had been. And I have failed to take Gracia into my camp, and so she will stand against me. And she is the only one that will be able to kill me. That is the feeling I get when I look upon her. I feel a great trepidation in my heart; it beats as though to burst. And I am not nearly as strong as Father had been. Neither so wise. She cast a spell to force me here, and I couldn’t grasp its nature. Yet she had mastered it fully. Truly she is one who loves magic, and faces it wholeheartedly. Her spells are wonderful. She is truly beautiful.”

“You really are just a stupid kid, Libarius. You talk about hating the world, you talk about being an enemy of humanity, then you talk about a girl so gently! You already know, don’t you? Our world is beautiful. It’s not nearly as dull as you pretend it is. Libarius, do you truly want to return to the Abyss?” Salvo stands back up straight, the orange light washing over him once more. He grabs Libarius by his coat and lifts him up, sitting him on the wall to bask in the last bits of sunlight. “Libarius, stay here. Please. Your freedom won’t be something evil. I won’t let it. There’s still plenty of life for you to live. That’s obvious now. At the very least, I want you to see Gracia again, before you give up on our world forever.” If Libarius feels anything strongly, Salvo cannot see it on his face.

“The die is cast. Such a thing is already out of reach. Gracia has seen through to my true nature; we can be nothing but ‘villain’ and ‘hero’ now. It is too late now.” Salvo smiles gently.

“I was late to stop the Tyrant. I was late to find you. I was late to bring you out of that cell. So I won’t be late here, Libarius. That your true nature is that of a villain, perhaps that’s just the image of yourself you hold, Libarius. It’s not true. It’s incomplete. I see somebody else entirely when I look at you. You’re more than just a villain, Libarius. You’re more than just the successor of the Tyrant now.”

“I shall be Father’s successor till my last breath.”

“Then I’ll be the one to stop you. I won’t make you and Gracia fight at the end. And I won’t let you die either. So live the life you want. Talk to Gracia and who knows, perhaps me and Summe will both have to fight.”

Salvo laughs, and Libarius can raise no more objections. Salvo, not having brought a cane with him, picks up Libarius and carries him on his back. Libarius remains both silent and expressionless. He resigns himself to his place, even as he can think of myriad spells that would allow him to walk. Salvo carries him, and walks beneath the setting sun towards home.